After three second places, Wout Van Aert (Jumbo), the leader of the Tour de France, unpacked the crowbar on the 171.5 kilometers from Dunkirk to Calais yesterday. He escaped on the fourth stage at the last climb with eleven kilometers to go and crossed the finish line solo as the winner. In the sprint of the pursuers, his Belgian compatriot Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin) finished second. Van Aert also extended the overall lead and is now 25 seconds ahead of Yves Lampaert (Quick Step).
Days like today are responsible for the fact that this tour is not only decided in the high mountains and in the time trial. The journey from Lille to Arenberg Porte du Hainaut has a special test “in the hell of the north” ready for 157 kilometers.
As in 2018, the tour organizers are installing cobblestone sections of the spring classic Paris-Roubaix. And so a wild ride is guaranteed. Especially the lightweight climbers are on the defensive on the rough sections. Hectic in front of them is guaranteed, wild battles for position on the narrow roads and unfortunately also defects and falls. Eleven pavé sections over a total of 20 kilometers of cobblestones have to be completed. “It’s completely unpredictable every time. It can go great in some passages and suddenly you’re standing on the side of the road with a broken rear wheel,” says Wolfsegger Michael Gogl, who, like his Alpecin captain Mathieu van der Poel, is one of the classic specialists in the field. These are at an advantage today. And of course Van Aert is one of them as a three-time cyclo-cross world champion.
Source: Nachrichten
